Broncos no spent force, says Geyer

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MELBOURNE Storm veteran Matt Geyer believes the most dangerous
thing his team could do in the lead-up to Saturday's National Rugby
League qualifying final against the Brisbane Broncos was to believe
the hype that the one-time runaway leader was a spent force.

Geyer said Brisbane, which headed the competition by three games
before losing its past five, had taken the opportunity to rest key
players who had soft-tissue injuries once its position in the top
four, and a home final, had been secured.

But he said yesterday that the team Storm would face in Brisbane
had a more imposing look to it than in recent weeks, with champion
five-eighth Darren Lockyer and fellow state-of-origin players,
Corey Parker, Casey McGuire and Dane Carlaw, who will start on the
bench.

"I believe they have actually been building for this game. About
four weeks ago, they knew that they were definitely in the top four
and they had their home final in place and from there on, rather
than trying to ensure a top-two position, they decided to rest a
few of their players and have a good hot run at the finals," Geyer
said.

" It wasn't a win at all costs situation for the Broncos
and they may have played accordingly."

The Storm has named an 18-man squad for the game. Jake Webster,
who was a late withdrawal in the last-round defeat by North
Queensland because of a knee injury, regained his wing position,
despite another impressive performance from replacement Greg
Inglis, dropped to the bench.

Geyer said Webster, who was handed the opportunity on the wing
after Steve Turner sustained a season-ending foot injury during the
pre-season, deserved to hold on to his starting spot in the finals.
"Jake hasn't put a foot wrong all year, he's done a great job for
us and really helped out our forwards with all the work that he has
done."

Meanwhile, fiery North Queensland front rower Carl Webb will
contest the grading of his striking charge at the NRL judiciary
tonight in a bid to play some part in the Cowboys' finals
campaign.

He will be joined at the judiciary by Parramatta's Fuifui
Moimoi, who will fight a grade 2 reckless high tackle charge.